Speech by HUA Junduo
Commissioner General of Expo 2010
(March 29, 2007)
H.E. Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong，
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentleman:
Good Morning!
It is my great pleasure to be here and have this opportunity of givingyou a little briefing on some aspects ofthe preparatory work going on for Expo 2010ShanghaiChina.
It was in March last year that the Chinese government sent out the official invitations for the Expo to over 190countries and 60 international organizations around the world. One year later, we have received verywarm responses from the international community. So far, 108countries and 15 international organizations have officially accepted our invitation and confirmed their participationin the Expo. Among themare 34 countries in Africa, 9 countries in America, 28 countries in Asia, 29 countries in Europe and 8 countries in Oceania. Up to now, Commissioners General of Section have been appointed by 22 countries and 1 international organization, namely France, Ukraine, Mauritania, Hungary, Spain, Sri Lanka, Bulgaria, Tanzania, Luxemburg, Belgium, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, Cameroon, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Sudan, Gabon, Vanuatu, Algeria, Ireland and the United Nations.We have good reasons to say that the situation for the international recruitment is encouraging.
After confirming their participation, a good number of countries have taken moves to establish contact with the organizer. Delegations from 18 countries visited Shanghai and haddiscussionswith us onsuch details as the allocation of the site, the type of the pavilions as well as the theme development. They believe that though the Expo is still three years away, it is the high time to start preparation if they want to have a desirable exhibition with good theme development.
In November last year, The First Participants Meeting washeld in Shanghai. It wasattended by nearly300 delegates from 115 countries and 12 international organizations, among which 49 countries and 6 international organizations had not confirmed their participation. The organizer provided the delegates with the detailed information of the theme development, the site allocation plan, the marketing and the site operation, etc. The meeting witnessed good communication between the organizer and the participants. Upon their return, delegates from quite a few countries having not yet accepted our invitation at the timehad their approval procedure accelerated by their governments andconfirmed their participation. In November this year, we will hold the 2ndParticipants Meeting. It is our hope that more countries and international organizations would be present at the meeting.
The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the preparation forthe Expo. As early as June 2004, we set up the Expo’s National Organizing Committee, chaired by Madam Wu Yi, Vice Premier of China and composed by more than 30 ministries or departments in the central government as well as the Shanghai Municipal Government. Besides formulating favorable policies for the Expo on the entrance, taxation, insurance, quarantine and inspection of the personnel and the cargos, the Chinese Government set up an assistance fund with a volume of USD 100 million to encourage the participation of the developing countries and the international organizations. At the same the organizer is always ready to have contact with confirmed or unconfirmed participants.
Dear friends, it is the first time that the World Exposition is, in its 150-year-long history, to behosted in a developing country as well as in China. We will join hands with the both developed and developing countries for building up a platform for the minglingof various civilizationsin the world and for the exchange and cooperation among all nations so as to contribute to a more harmoniousand prosperous world.
Thank you!
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